12/18: countrywide hard lockdown measures in Netherlands until Jan 14

Yup. I long ago gave up on my idea of a birthday weekend trip (first weekend of January) to Amsterdam. 🙁

I'm so sorry, Kim. ☹️
This freakin' plague just doesn't seem to want to give us much for light at the end (please tell me there WILL be an end!???) of its long tunnel. How are things in Paris?

Editing to add... RnR, how are things for you and yours in Den Hague? News from the ground?

The tunnel is too long and the light is too dim. My thoughts - if an almost total world lockdown didn’t stop this virus in 2020 what makes us think it will do the trick this time? We’re going to have to learn to live with this virus cause it isn’t going away any time soon. Vaccines and boosters are the only way to get this under control.

So disappointed, just so disappointed.

Sorry for Kim too.

Kathy, left NL 10 days ago for Italy "work trip." Currently, I am sitting at Heathrow in T5 waiting on my delayed flight to Atlanta. Based on what my wife told she learned at work this week, we expect to come back to a full lockdown... UGH!

Oh yuck!

Sending best wishes to both Kate and RnR!

Kim...so sorry you can't go to AMS for your birthday!

"Ugh" is an understatement, eh? Condolences to Kateja, RnR and the rest of the terrific RS community in NL
Virtual drowning of mutual sorrows, anyone? 🍷🍺

Unfortunately, numbers are rising rapidly in many parts of Europe. I think it’s going to be a grim January in most places.

We pulled the plug on our winter sunshine in the Canary Islands yesterday, leaving London 7 January.

At this point it’s hard to not take a “Let it spread, let it spread,
let it spread” attitude.

Still, it's another awful holiday for all the exhausted health care workers. Last I checked, Tom, our state was very nearly out of ICU beds.....

https://www.startribune.com/unvaccinated-patients-are-filling-minnesotas-intensive-care-units/600126172/

...and I'm reading that bed shortages have reached the critical point in other locations home and abroad as well. Healthcare's Powers That Be worldwide are, I'm sure, doing the best they can to avoid putting more pressure on already overloaded resources? No easy task, and I'd sure hate to be in their shoes. Back to travel....

It is no longer potential.

BBC: " Netherlands WILL enter tight lockdown on Sunday" (tomorrow)

It has been announced. Lockdown until at least January 14.

Original post updated per announcement.

We're with Barbara. Life is too short to spend it at home. I was about to have a come-apart last Feb after a year spent mostly at home.

" In the meantime Kathy and I will enjoy falling cases locally for a few weeks. Will have to plan a ski weekend before mid-January by which time the lull will have ended. That’s what travel has become: if it looks like things will work out next week, drop everything and pick up and go."
This is the part I find so appalling, well, beyond the blaming S Africa and saying "let it spread" and "let people die"!
A pesky annoyance to your ski plans vs yet another global public health crisis? Oh, and the news of a delay to the vaccine for my 0-5 after an 8 hr day in a N95 mask in a big high school under lockdown, in case, from the TikTok threat. But still nothing like what health care workers will now face.
They aren't "dropping everything and picking up and going." Hope you don't need health care!
Ugh, just came at the very wrong moment.

Don't want the mods to have to delete this thread on Monday so gotta keep it on track....

Anyone with plans to visit the Netherlands should pay attention to the latest mandates. Things have changed, and changed with short notice. Plan accordingly.

LOL, I don't ski, and am hunkering down close to home until I personally feel OK to venture further afield. Might be awhile. Stay healthy, and a peaceful holiday everyone!

Headed to our place in Amsterdam for three weeks on Christmas Eve. Planning on a lot of cooking and DVD watching and walks and bike rides. Basically anything to get out of our small NYC place for a minute.